Admission Requirements

In order to be eligible for the LL.M. programme in Natural Resources Law and International Environmental Law, a student must have completed a BA degree in Law at the University of Iceland, or a comparable law degree from another university (180 ECTS). This basic law degree should consist of at least three years of law studies. In case of doubt as to this condition, the Master's Programme Board can require a student to submit information as to the nature and substance of their studies.

Admission criteria for Ph.D. studies can be found here.

It should be noted that permits for entry and residence in Iceland, as well as financing, is the applicants' own responsibility. The Faculty Office assists applicants in gathering information concerning entry and residence permits. For more general information concerning conditions for entry and residence in Iceland, the Directorate of Immigration should be contacted. Please note that the Directorate of Immigration can take up to three months to execute residence applications. Residence applications are sent to the Directorate of Immigration after the Master's Programme Board has accepted an application.

Teaching, course work, and examinations during the LL.M. programme presume a high standard of spoken and written English. All applicants, whose native language is not English, must submit a confirmation of their proficiency in English. This confirmation can either consist in a university degree conducted in English, in a country where English is the primary language and at an institution where English is the primary medium of instruction, or an official score report of a standardised test in English.

Further information about scores needed can be found here: Proof of English proficiency requirements

Applicants are required to submit at least two recommendations from persons with knowledge of the applicant's academic abilities, preferably from a former university teacher or a professional legal superior. Furthermore, applicants are asked to submit a Statement of Intent, briefly describing their future academic and/or professional goals, perhaps even a suggestion or outline for a final paper. 

 A complete application consists of the following items:

1. The standard application form (Online) with all relevant information.

2. Certified academic records. Note that the Master's Programme Board may require more information as to the nature and substance of former studies as well as grading systems. With the certified academic records the following information must be attached: Full address of the university issuing the academic record, as well as their email addresses, fax numbers and websites.

3. Two letters of recommendation. Please use the reference form (.pdf) and follow directions noted therein.

4. Statement of Intent. The Statement of Intent should be no longer than 400 words (approx. one typed page). Please use the form attached to the application form.

5. If an applicant is not a native English speaker or has not conducted his former studies in English, an official score report of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or a comparable standardised test is required. Preferably the report should be sent directly to the Faculty of Law by entering the Faculty's address on the answering sheet.

An applicant is at liberty to include other items in his application, e.g. articles or other written work in English.

Applicants can expect that documents they provide will be sent to the issuer and asked for affirmation of authenticity of the documents, before applications are dealt with by the Master's Programme Board. This procedure can take considerable time but applicants will be notified if documents they provide have to be dealt with in this manner.

Admission criteria for exchange students are decided by the student's University, but all exchange students wishing to study at the University of Iceland must have completed a BA degree in Law or the equivalent 3 years of law studies, and have the required proficiency in English.